Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Diane Marino: Romance In The Dark

Diane Marino: Romance In The Dark

By Nicholas F. Mondello
November 9, 2024
View read count

Romance in the Dark, from highly-versatile vocalist-pianist-arranger

Diane Marino

piano and vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Diane Marino and a team of Nashville's top studio players, offers 10 entertaining selections. Comprised of covers of well-known standards and classic soul material (with a handful-plus being remixed and remastered from the vocalist's previously released recordings), it is a thoroughly enjoyable and, yes, romantic effort.

"Out of This World" opens the session in a lush exotic atmosphere. Originally recorded by

Jo Stafford

vocals
1917 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Jo Stafford and nearly a jazz standard, Marino dives into the vibe as she molds the dynamics, supported by a thick string backing.

Don Aliquo

saxophone, soprano

" data-original-title="" title="">Don Aliquo's soprano sax joins for a brief taste. It is a superb track. "Trust in Me" puts Marino in front of

Brad Cole

keyboards

" data-original-title="" title="">Brad Cole's strings and a light rock beat. Marino is highly involved, and her approach to the lyric content is sincere and soulful. A fine

Joel Frahm

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Joel Frahm soprano solo is a perfect fit, especially as things come to a close. The title track is a down-home bluesy specimen composed and first recorded by 1940s blues great, Lillian "Lil" Green. Trumpeter

Leif Shires

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Leif Shires states a sassy plungered solo before Marino delivers a gutsy yet sexy take.

Marino, whose oeuvre and stylings show that she is deeply influenced by and student of great Black women vocalists from

Nancy Wilson

vocals
1937 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Nancy Wilson,

Dakota Staton

vocals
1932 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Dakota Staton,

Gloria Lynne

vocals
b.1931

" data-original-title="" title="">Gloria Lynne and others, is always right at home in that environment. She is azure blue all around and without faux soul. "The Jazz in You," a hit for Lynne in the early '60s, is a hip light swinger with a "Trouble Man"-like under-bed before opening up into a straight four. Marino works her volume in perfect synch with the lyrics, graveling jazz seductively.

Roy Agee

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Roy Agee's trombone and

Brad Cole

keyboards

" data-original-title="" title="">Brad Cole on B-3 solo. The workhorse ballad, "You Don't Know What Love Is," is textbook romantic jazz—sultry Marino and

Rusty Jessup

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Rusty Jessup's deep tenor. Marino's fine rhythmic and dynamic play is on display. A highlight track.

Marino has an engaging voice and an expansive versatility across tune type and groove. She displays the best of a spectrum of taste and talent over the varied selections. Her playful, yet respectful, approach to the lyrics adds dimension to her performance. Although some of the tracks were originally recorded in the past and are remixed and remastered, her consistency has not wavered. Her Nashville A-listers, to a person, are just that. Marino's arrangements are as tasteful and appropriate as her voice. Cole's and

Jeff Steinberg

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Steinberg's respective string writing is luxuriously beautiful.

"So in Love," from the Great American Songbook via

Cole Porter

composer / conductor
1891 - 1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Cole Porter, is an exotic take. Flutist

Mitch Reilly

flute

" data-original-title="" title="">Mitch Reilly and acoustic guitarist

Pat Bergeson

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Pat Bergeson offer fine solos and the strings add depth. The old doo-wop classic from The Casinos, "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" (actually, a country tune before that) is covered straight-up by Marino. Tenor great

Houston Person

saxophone, tenor
b.1934

" data-original-title="" title="">Houston Person guests and provides soul. The track epitomizes what can be done both vocally and instrumentally with an iconic selection that is burned into the musical consciousness. On "Speaking of Happiness,"

Frank Marino

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Marino's bass plays the stalking-like line of the original lilting rock tune recorded by Lynne. Marino covers deeply blue and scats in unison with synth vibes. It is a soulful side. "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know," is a cover of the original Blood, Sweat and Tears Child is the Father of Man (Columbia, 1968) take by

Al Kooper

composer / conductor
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">Al Kooper. Frahm's tenor wails his intro before Marino tells the story and Frahm counters. The track builds in intensity. No horns here, but, a solid blue-eyed soul take.

Romance in the Dark is a romantically lights-out performance from a superior vocal talent and her ace Nashville team.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Out Of This World; Trust in Me; Romance in the Dark; The Jazz in You; You Don't Know What Love Is; So In Love; Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye; Speaking of Happiness; I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know; Yes, I'm Ready

Personnel

Diane Marino

piano and vocals

Frank Marino

bass, acoustic

Chris Brown (CB)

drums

Joel Frahm

saxophone, tenor

Mitch Reilly

flute

Leif Shires

trumpet

Houston Person

saxophone, tenor

Pat Bergeson

guitar

Mark Christian

guitar

Brad Cole

keyboards

Rusty Jessup

saxophone, tenor

Don Aliquo

saxophone, soprano

Roy Agee

trombone

Additional Instrumentation

Brad Cole/ Keyboards/B3 Organ, String Orchestrations: Brad Cole, Jeff Steinberg

Album information

Title: Romance In The Dark | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: M&M Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Christian McBride: Jazz Notes from t...
< Previous

The Jazz Worlds of James Baldwin - P...
Next >